EMB to strengthen support for LGUs in waste mgt.

CEBU, Philippines - Are local government units here adept in handling composting facilities and material recovery facilities and utilize technology for a landfill?

These systems and processes are crucial for solid waste management that an official of the Environmental Management Bureau in Central Visayas admitted the LGU's have less knowledge of.

"If you will ask all these local government units, maka-ingon gyud ta og gamay ra sila og nakat-onan. Why? If you visit the barangays especially on the highly-urbanized cities, look at their performance in terms of solid waste. It will manifest on how they manage these," said Engr. William Cuñado, director of EMB-7.

EMB is tasked of providing technical and other capability-building assistance to support LGU's on solid waste management framework but manning these systems lies on the capability of the LGU's.

For 13 years of implementing Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, Cuñado said the agency has been focusing on a micro approach through coordinating the operations of solid waste management in the city and municipal levels.

Cuñado plans to revisit RA 9003 to look for ways on how the agency can support the LGU's better.

He said EMB-7, a line bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, created a separate committee to hold an extensive study on the different technologies used for managing solid waste.

He said efficient technologies which are good to be used are material recovery facilities, composting facilities, and the processes for sanitary landfill, among others.

He added the agencies are tracking on effective systems or technologies used by various entities to document the best practices adopted not only by LGU's but also by institutions or private companies.

Of the 5,000 schools in the region, EMB-7 identified two universities that are undertaking sustainable mechanisms and eco-friendly initiatives for solid waste management - the St. Paul University and Foundation University, both located in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental.

Negros Oriental used to be one of the provinces of Central Visayas before the whole Negros Island became the Negros Island Region (NIR).

"We have visited one, a successful awardee and champion, the Foundation University. I asked the pollution control officer to provide us all the details like the design, cost, and how to operate this type of biomechanical group, one of the methods used for composting facility," he said. — (FREEMAN)